Patrizia Casaccia, M.D., Ph.D.

  • Director, Neuroscience Initiative
  • Einstein Professor of Biology and Biochemistry, The Graduate Center, CUNY

Dr. Casaccia received her medical degree with Honors from the University of Rome, and a Ph.D. degree in Neurobiology from State University of New York (SUNY) Health and Science Center Brooklyn. She trained at Cornell Weill Medical Center in New York and at the Skirball Institute for Molecular Medicine at NYU.

Dr. Casaccia’s work adopts molecular and cellular techniques to understand how glial cells (more specifically myelinating oligodendrocytes) modify genes to acquire their identity and how the environment (i.e. social influences and physical space) may modify this process, thereby affecting myelin formation and disease susceptibility. The approach involves study of human-derived samples, mouse models, large unbiased “omics” approaches to study proteins, lipids and genome-wide changes. In addition, the lab has a strong interest in defining mechanisms of neurodegeneration in order to develop novel therapeutics.

Dr. Casaccia’s research interest spans three main topics:

  1. How new myelin is formed in the developing and adult brain;
  2. Why neurons are damaged in neurological disorders;
  3. What is the effect of the environment (i.e. social experiences, diet and gut microbiome) on the genome and how this affects white matter, behavior and diseases.

The methodologies used in the Casaccia’s Lab include molecular and robotic technologies for the isolation of single cells, the study of the epigenome in distinct cell types, dietary manipulations, study of microbiota and behavioral assessment in rodents in physiological conditions and in models of neurological disorders. Her work is funded by grants from the National Institute for Neurological Disorders and Stroke, the Department of the Defense and by the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.

Dr. Casaccia is committed to education. She has trained several undergraduate and graduate students who have greatly succeeded in terms of publications, awards and have continued to successful postdoctoral positions. She has been the recipient of several Teaching and Research Awards, that witness her recognition by students and peer faculty. She is a strong believer in Mentorship of post-doctoral fellows and junior faculty.

Dr. Casaccia comes to the ASRC from the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, where she retains an affiliation as the Co-director of a joint CUNY-Mount Sinai Glial Center, and will continue the translational work in Multiple Sclerosis.

Research Interests

1. Epigenetic regulation of gene expression in glial progenitors with an emphasis on chromatin; DNA methylation; nuclear structure;
2. Environmental regulation of white matter structure and function;
3. Gut-brain communication: role of diet/microbes/metabolites;
4. Mitochondrial Bioenergetics and axonal damage in demyelinating disorders.

Click here to see the bibliography of Dr. Casaccia.

Select Videos

Bacterial neurotoxic metabolites in multiple sclerosis cerebrospinal fluid and plasma (Brain, December 2021)

The Brain And Loneliness, Multiple Sclerosis, Life in Space | Simply Science (CUNY TV)

Video Summary for Special Issue on Epigenetics (Glia, August 2020)

Research in MS: Can the Course be Modified?

A metabolic perspective on CSF-mediated neurodegeneration in multiple sclerosis

Publications

M. Pruvost, J. Patzig, C. Yattah, I. Selcen, M. Hernandez, H.-J. Park, S. Moyon, S. Liu, M. S. Morioka, L. Shopland, O. Al-Dalahmah, J. Bendl, J. F. Fullard, P. Roussos, J. Goldman, Y. He, J. L. Dupree, P. Casaccia. The Stability of the Myelinating Oligodendrocyte Transcriptome Is Regulated by the Nuclear Lamina. Cell Reports, 2023, 42 (8), 112848. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.celrep.2023.112848.

I. Selcen, E. Prentice, P. Casaccia. The Epigenetic Landscape of Oligodendrocyte Lineage Cells. Ann N Y Acad Sci, 2023. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/nyas.14959.

J. Buthmann, D. Huang, P. Casaccia, S. O’Neill, Y. Nomura, J. Liu. Prenatal Exposure to a Climate-Related Disaster Results in Changes of the Placental Transcriptome and Infant Temperament. Frontiers in Genetics, 2022, 13.

H.-J. Park, E. Tsai, D. Huang, M. Weaver, L. Frick, A. Alcantara, J. J. Moran, J. Patzig, C. V. Melendez-Vasquez, G. R. Crabtree, M. L. Feltri, J. Svaren, P. Casaccia. ACTL6a Coordinates Axonal Caliber Recognition and Myelination in the Peripheral Nerve. iScience, 2022, 25 (4), 104132. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.isci.2022.104132.

D. K. Dansu, J. Liang, I. Selcen, H. Zheng, D. F. Moore, P. Casaccia. PRMT5 Interacting Partners and Substrates in Oligodendrocyte Lineage Cells. Front. Cell. Neurosci., 2022, 16, 820226. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fncel.2022.820226.

F. Cathomas, L. M. Holt, E. M. Parise, J. Liu, J. W. Murrough, P. Casaccia, E. J. Nestler, S. J. Russo. Beyond the Neuron: Role of Non-Neuronal Cells in Stress Disorders. Neuron, 2022, S0896-6273(22)00102-7. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuron.2022.01.033.

A. Ntranos, H. J. Park, M. Wentling, V. Tolstikov, M. Amatruda, B. Inbar, S. Kim-Schulze, C. Frazier, J. Button, M. A. Kiebish, F. Lublin, K. Edwards, P. Casaccia. Bacterial Neurotoxic Metabolites in Multiple Sclerosis Cerebrospinal Fluid and Plasma. Brain, 2021, awab320. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/brain/awab320. Video Abstract

D. Marechal, D. K. Dansu, K. Castro, J. Patzig, L. Magri, B. Inbar, M. Gacias, S. Moyon, P. Casaccia. N-Myc Downstream Regulated Family Member 1 (NDRG1) Is Enriched in Myelinating Oligodendrocytes and Impacts Myelin Degradation in Response to Demyelination. Glia. 2021 Oct 23. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/glia.24108.

S. Moyon, R. Frawley, D. Marechal, D. Huang, K. L. H. Marshall-Phelps, L. Kegel, S. M. K. Bøstrand, B. Sadowski, Y.-H. Jiang, D. A. Lyons, W. Möbius, P. Casaccia. TET1-Mediated DNA Hydroxymethylation Regulates Adult Remyelination in Mice. Nat Commun, 2021, 12 (1), 3359. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-021-23735-3.

Z. Li, M. Moniruzzaman, R. M. Dastgheyb, S.-W. Yoo, M. Wang, H. Hao, J. Liu, P. Casaccia, C. Nogueras-Ortiz, D. Kapogiannis, B. S. Slusher, N. J. Haughey. Astrocytes Deliver CK1 to Neurons via Extracellular Vesicles in Response to Inflammation Promoting the Translation and Amyloidogenic Processing of APP. J Extracell Vesicles, 2020, 10 (2), e12035. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/jev2.12035.
K. Veerasammy, Y. X. Chen, S. Sauma, M. Pruvost, D. K. Dansu, T. Choetso, T. Zhong, D. Marechal, P. Casaccia, R. Abzalimov, Y. He. Sample Preparation for Metabolic Profiling Using MALDI Mass Spectrometry Imaging. JoVE, 2020, No. 166, 62008. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3791/62008.

J. Liu, E. Likhtik, A. D. Shereen, T. A. Dennis-Tiwary, P. Casaccia. White Matter Plasticity in Anxiety: Disruption of Neural Network Synchronization During Threat-Safety Discrimination. Front Cell Neurosci, 2020, 14, 587053. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fncel.2020.587053.

D. K. Dansu, S. Sauma, P. Casaccia. Oligodendrocyte Progenitors as Environmental Biosensors. Semin Cell Dev Biol, 2020. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.semcdb.2020.09.012.

M. Amatruda, M. Petracca, M. Wentling, B. Inbar, K. Castro, E. Y. Chen, M. A. Kiebish, K. Edwards, M. Inglese, P. Casaccia. Retrospective Unbiased Plasma Lipidomic of Progressive Multiple Sclerosis Patients-Identifies Lipids Discriminating Those with Faster Clinical Deterioration. Scientific Reports, 2020, 10 (1), 15644. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-72654-8.

The iMSMS Consortium. Household Paired Design Reduces Variance and Increases Power in Multi-City Gut Microbiome Study in Multiple Sclerosis. Mult Scler, 2020, 1352458520924594. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/1352458520924594.

P. Casaccia, E. W. G. M. Boddeke. Foreword. Glia, 2020, 68 (8), 1551–1553. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/glia.23841.

S. Sauma, P. Casaccia. Gut-Brain Communication in Demyelinating Disorders. Current Opinion in Neurobiology, 2020, 62, 92–101. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conb.2020.01.005.

C. Yattah, M. Hernandez, D. Huang, H. Park, W. Liao, P. Casaccia. Dynamic Lamin B1-Gene Association During Oligodendrocyte Progenitor Differentiation. Neurochem Res, 2020. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11064-019-02941-y.

P. Casaccia. Emerging Concepts in Neuroscience Research: 2019 Highlights. The Lancet Neurology, 2020, 19 (1), 21–22. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S1474-4422(19)30452-1.

S. Sauma, P. Casaccia. Does the Gut Microbiota Contribute to the Oligodendrocyte Progenitor Niche? Neuroscience Letters, 2019, 134574. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neulet.2019.134574.

M. Wentling, C. Lopez-Gomez, H.J. Park, M. Amatruda, A. Ntranos, J. Aramini, M. Petracca, T. Rusielewicz, E. Chen, V. Tolstikov, M. Kiebish, V. Fossati, M. Inglese, C.M. Quinzii, I. Katz Sand, P. Casaccia. A metabolic perspective on CSF-mediated neurodegeneration in multiple sclerosisBrain, 2019. DOI: 10.1093/brain/awz201 (press release)

V. Bonnefil, K. Dietz, M. Amatruda, M. Wentling, A.V. Aubry, J.L. Dupree, G. Temple, H.J. Park, N.S. Burghardt, P. Casaccia, J. Liu. Region-specific myelin differences define behavioral consequences of chronic social defeat stress in mice. ELife, 2019, 8. DOI: 10.7554/eLife.40855.001. Podcast: https://elifesciences.org/podcast/episode60#933.

L.L. Boshans, D.C. Factor, V. Singh, J. Liu, C. Zhao, I. Mandoiu, Q.R. Lu, P. Casaccia, P.J. Tesar, A. Nishiyama. The Chromatin Environment Around Interneuron Genes in Oligodendrocyte Precursor Cells and Their Potential for Interneuron Reprograming. Frontiers in Neuroscience, 2019, 13. DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2019.00829

K. Castro, A. Ntranos, M. Amatruda, M. Petracca, P. Kosa, E.Y. Chen, J. Morstein, D. Trauner, C.T. Watson, M.A. Kiebish, B. Bielekova, M. Inglese, I. Katz Sand, P. Casaccia. Body Mass Index in Multiple Sclerosis modulates ceramide-induced DNA methylation and disease course. EBioMedicine, 2019. DOI: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2019.03.087 (press release)

A.M. Falcão, M. Meijer, A. Scaglione, P. Rinwa, E. Agirre, J. Liang, S.C. Larsen, A. Heskol, R. Frawley, M. Klingener, M. Varas-Godoy, A.A.S.F. Raposo, P. Ernfors, D.S. Castro, M.L. Nielsen, P. Casaccia, G. Castelo-Branco. PAD2-Mediated Citrullination Contributes to Efficient Oligodendrocyte Differentiation and Myelination. Cell Reports, 2019, 4. DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2019.03.108

Tsai, P. Casaccia. Mechano-Modulation of Nuclear Events Regulating Oligodendrocyte Progenitor Gene Expression. Glia, 2019, 67 (7), 1229–1239. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/glia.23595.

A. Ntranos, V. Ntranos, V. Bonnefil, J. Liu, S. Kim-Schulze, Y. He, Y. Zhu, R. Brandstadter, C.T. Watson, A.J. Sharp, I. Katz Sand, P. Casaccia. Fumarates target the metabolic-epigenetic interplay of brain-homing T cells in multiple sclerosis. Brain, 2019, 142(3), 647-661. DOI: 10.1093/brain/awy344

E. Cekanaviciute, A. Pröbstel, A. Thomann, T.F. Runia, P. Casaccia, I.K. Sand, E. Crabtree, S. Singh, J. Morrissey, P. Barba, R. Gomez, R. Knight, S. Mazmanian, J. Graves, B.A.C. Cree, S.S. Zamvil, S.E. Baranzini. Multiple Sclerosis-Associated Changes in the Composition and Immune Functions of Spore-Forming Bacteria. mSystems, 2018 Nov 6;3(6):e00083-18.. DOI: doi.org/10.1128/msystems.00083-18

K. Castro, P. Casaccia. Epigenetic modifications in brain and immune cells of multiple sclerosis patientsMult Scler, 2018. DOI: 10.1177/1352458517737389.

P. Casaccia, G. Corfas. Introduction to the special issue on myelin plasticity in the central nervous system. Dev Neurobiol, 2018. DOI: 10.1002/dneu.22575.

A. Schlüter, J. Sandoval, S. Fourcade, A. Díaz-Lagares, M. Ruiz, P. Casaccia, M. Esteller, A. Pujol. Epigenomic signature of adrenoleukodystrophy predicts compromised oligodendrocyte differentiationBrain Pathol, 2018. DOI: 10.1111/bpa.12595.

A.T. McKenzie, M. Wang, M.E. Hauberg, J.F. Fullard, A. Kozlenkov, A. Keenan, Y.L. Hurd, S. Dracheva, P. Casaccia, P. Roussos, B. Zhang. Brain Cell Type Specific Gene Expression and Co-expression Network ArchitecturesSci Rep, 2018. DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-27293-5.

A. Scaglione, J. Patzig, J. Liang, R. Frawley, J. Bok, A. Mela, C. Yattah, J. Zhang, S.X. Teo, T. Zhou, S. Chen, E. Bernstein, P. Canoll, E. Guccione, P. Casaccia. PRMT5-mediated regulation of developmental myelinationNat Commun, 2018. DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-04863-9.

I. K. Sand, Y. Zhu, A. Ntranos, J.C. Clemente, E. Cekanaviciute, R. Brandstadter, E. Crabtree-Hartman, S. Singh, Y. Bencosme, J. Debelius, R. Knight, B.A.C. Cree, S.E. Baranzini, P. Casaccia. Disease-modifying therapies alter gut microbial composition in MSNeurology – Neuroimmunology Neuroinflammation, 2018, 6, 1. DOI: 10.1212/nxi.0000000000000517

A. Pathak, E.M. Stanley, F.E. Hickman, N. Wallace, B. Brewer, D. Li, S. Gluska, E. Perlson, S. Fuhrmann, K. Akassoglou, F. Bronfman, P. Casaccia, D.T. Burnette, B.D. Carter. Retrograde Degenerative Signaling Mediated by the p75 Neurotrophin Receptor Requires p150Glued Deacetylation by Axonal HDAC1. Developmental cell, 2018 Aug 6;46(3):376-387.e7.. DOI: doi.org/10.1016/j.devcel.2018.07.001

R.W. Motl, E.M. Mowry, D.M. Ehde, N.G. LaRocca, K.E. Smith, K. Costello, L. Shinto, A.V. Ng, A.B. Sullivan, B. Giesser, K.K. McCully, B. Fernhall, M. Bishop, M. Plow, P. Casaccia, N.D. Chiaravalloti. Wellness and multiple sclerosis: The National MS Society establishes a Wellness Research Working Group and research priorities. Multiple sclerosis (Houndmills, Basingstoke, England), 2018 Mar;24(3):262-267.. DOI: doi.org/10.1177/1352458516687404

J. Liu, K. Dietz, G.E. Hodes, S.J. Russo, P. Casaccia. Widespread transcriptional alternations in oligodendrocytes in the adult mouse brain following chronic stress. Developmental neurobiology, 2018 Feb;78(2):152-162.. DOI: doi.org/10.1002/dneu.22533

A.T. McKenzie, S. Moyon, M. Wang, I. Katsyv, W. Song, X. Zhou, E.B. Dammer, D.M. Duong, J. Aaker, Y. Zhao, N. Beckmann, P. Wang, J. Zhu, J.J. Lah, N.T. Seyfried, A.I. Levey, P. Katsel, V. Haroutunian, E.E. Schadt, B. Popko, P. Casaccia, B. Zhang. Multiscale network modeling of oligodendrocytes reveals molecular components of myelin dysregulation in Alzheimer's disease. Molecular neurodegeneration, 2017 Nov 6;12(1):82.. DOI: doi.org/10.1186/s13024-017-0219-3

Y. Zhu, O.G. Vidaurre, K.P. Adula, N. Kezunovic, M. Wentling, G.W. Huntley, P. Casaccia. Subcellular Distribution of HDAC1 in Neurotoxic Conditions Is Dependent on Serine Phosphorylation. The Journal of neuroscience : the official journal of the Society for Neuroscience, 2017 Aug 2;37(31):7547-7559.. DOI: doi.org/10.1523/jneurosci.3000-16.2017

D. Mathur, A.L. Riffo-Campos, J. Castillo, J.D. Haines, O.G. Vidaurre, F. Zhang, F. Coret-Ferrer, P. Casaccia, B. Casanova, G. Lopez-Rodas. Bioenergetic Failure in Rat Oligodendrocyte Progenitor Cells Treated with Cerebrospinal Fluid Derived from Multiple Sclerosis Patients. Frontiers in cellular neuroscience, 2017 Jul 18;11:209.. DOI: doi.org/10.3389/fncel.2017.00209

A.M. Dickens, L.B. Tovar-Y-Romo, S. Yoo, A.L. Trout, M. Bae, M. Kanmogne, B. Megra, D.W. Williams, K.W. Witwer, M. Gacias, N. Tabatadze, R.N. Cole, P. Casaccia, J.W. Berman, D.C. Anthony, N.J. Haughey. Astrocyte-shed extracellular vesicles regulate the peripheral leukocyte response to inflammatory brain lesions. Science signaling, 2017 Apr 4;10(473):eaai7696.. DOI: doi.org/10.1126/scisignal.aai7696

S. Moyon, D. Ma, J.L. Huynh, D.J.C. Coutts, C. Zhao, P. Casaccia, R.J.M. Franklin. Efficient Remyelination Requires DNA Methylation. eNeuro, 2017 Mar 30;4(2):ENEURO.0336-16.2017.. DOI: doi.org/10.1523/eneuro.0336-16.2017

S. Moyon, P. Casaccia. DNA methylation in oligodendroglial cells during developmental myelination and in disease. Neurogenesis (Austin, Tex.), 2017 Jan 31;4(1):e1270381.. DOI: doi.org/10.1080/23262133.2016.1270381

M. Wang, P. Roussos, A. McKenzie, X. Zhou, Y. Kajiwara, K.J. Brennand, G.C.D. Luca, J.F. Crary, P. Casaccia, J.D. Buxbaum, M. Ehrlich, S. Gandy, A. Goate, P. Katsel, E. Schadt, V. Haroutunian, B. Zhang. Integrative network analysis of nineteen brain regions identifies molecular signatures and networks underlying selective regional vulnerability to Alzheimer's disease. Genome medicine, 2016 Nov 1;8(1):104.. DOI: doi.org/10.1186/s13073-016-0355-3

J. Liu, S. Moyon, M. Hernandez, P. Casaccia. Epigenetic control of oligodendrocyte development: adding new players to old keepers. Current opinion in neurobiology, 2016 Aug;39:133-8.. DOI: doi.org/10.1016/j.conb.2016.06.002

A. Ntranos, P. Casaccia. Bromodomains: Translating the words of lysine acetylation into myelin injury and repair. Neuroscience letters, 2016 Jun 20;625:4-10. DOI: doi.org/10.1016/j.neulet.2015.10.015

B.M. Laitman, L. Asp, J.N. Mariani, J. Zhang, J. Liu, S. Sawai, C. Chapouly, S. Horng, E.G. Kramer, N. Mitiku, H. Loo, N. Burlant, X. Pedre, Y. Hara, G. Nudelman, E. Zaslavsky, Y. Lee, D.A. Braun, Q.R. Lu, G. Narla, C.S. Raine, S.L. Friedman, P. Casaccia, G.R. John. The Transcriptional Activator Krüppel-like Factor-6 Is Required for CNS Myelination. PLoS biology, 2016 May 23;14(5):e1002467.. DOI: doi.org/10.1371/journal.pbio.1002467

S. Moyon, J. Liang, P. Casaccia. Epigenetics in NG2 glia cells. Brain research, 2016 May 1;1638(Pt B):183-198.. DOI: doi.org/10.1016/j.brainres.2015.06.009

S. Moyon, J.L. Huynh, D. Dutta, F. Zhang, D. Ma, S. Yoo, R. Lawrence, M. Wegner, G.R. John, B. Emery, C. Lubetzki, R.J.M. Franklin, G. Fan, J. Zhu, J.L. Dupree, P. Casaccia. Functional Characterization of DNA Methylation in the Oligodendrocyte Lineage. Cell reports, 2016 Apr 26;15(4):748-760. DOI: doi.org/10.1016/j.celrep.2016.03.060

P. Douvaras, T. Rusielewicz, K.H. Kim, J.D. Haines, P. Casaccia, V. Fossati. Epigenetic Modulation of Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell Differentiation to Oligodendrocytes. International journal of molecular sciences, 2016 Apr 22;17(4):614.. DOI: doi.org/10.3390/ijms17040614

M. Hernandez, J. Patzig, S.R. Mayoral, K.D. Costa, J.R. Chan, P. Casaccia. Mechanostimulation Promotes Nuclear and Epigenetic Changes in Oligodendrocytes. The Journal of neuroscience : the official journal of the Society for Neuroscience, 2016 Jan 20;36(3):806-13. DOI: doi.org/10.1523/jneurosci.2873-15.2016

J. Liu, J.L. Dupree, M. Gacias, R. Frawley, T. Sikder, P. Naik, P. Casaccia. Clemastine Enhances Myelination in the Prefrontal Cortex and Rescues Behavioral Changes in Socially Isolated Mice. The Journal of neuroscience : the official journal of the Society for Neuroscience, 2016 Jan 20;36(3):957-62. DOI: doi.org/10.1523/jneurosci.3608-15.2016

H. Rolyan, Y.Y. Tyurina, M. Hernandez, A.A. Amoscato, L.J. Sparvero, B.C. Nmezi, Y. Lu, M.R.H. Estécio, K. Lin, J. Chen, R. He, P. Gong, L.H. Rigatti, J. Dupree, H. Bayır, V.E. Kagan, P. Casaccia, Q.S. Padiath. Defects of Lipid Synthesis Are Linked to the Age-Dependent Demyelination Caused by Lamin B1 Overexpression. The Journal of neuroscience : the official journal of the Society for Neuroscience, 2015 Aug 26;35(34):12002-17. DOI: doi.org/10.1523/jneurosci.1668-15.2015

C. Zhao, D. Ma, M. Zawadzka, S.P.J. Fancy, L. Elis-Williams, G. Bouvier, J.H. Stockley, G.M.d. Castro, B. Wang, S. Jacobs, P. Casaccia, R.J.M. Franklin. Sox2 Sustains Recruitment of Oligodendrocyte Progenitor Cells following CNS Demyelination and Primes Them for Differentiation during Remyelination. The Journal of neuroscience : the official journal of the Society for Neuroscience, 2015 Aug 19;35(33):11482-99. DOI: doi.org/10.1523/jneurosci.3655-14.2015

M. Hernandez, P. Casaccia. Interplay between transcriptional control and chromatin regulation in the oligodendrocyte lineage. Glia, 2015 Aug;63(8):1357-75. DOI: doi.org/10.1002/glia.22818

J. Feng, N. Shao, K.E. Szulwach, V. Vialou, J. Huynh, C. Zhong, T. Le, D. Ferguson, M.E. Cahill, Y. Li, J.W. Koo, E. Ribeiro, B. Labonte, B.M. Laitman, D. Estey, V. Stockman, P. Kennedy, T. Couroussé, I. Mensah, G. Turecki, K.F. Faull, G. Ming, H. Song, G. Fan, P. Casaccia, L. Shen, P. Jin, E.J. Nestler. Role of Tet1 and 5-hydroxymethylcytosine in cocaine action. Nature neuroscience, 2015 Apr;18(4):536-44. DOI: doi.org/10.1038/nn.3976

J.D. Haines, O. Herbin, B.d.l. Hera, O.G. Vidaurre, G.A. Moy, Q. Sun, H.Y.J. Fung, S. Albrecht, K. Alexandropoulos, D. McCauley, Y.M. Chook, T. Kuhlmann, G.J. Kidd, S. Shacham, P. Casaccia. Nuclear export inhibitors avert progression in preclinical models of inflammatory demyelination. Nature neuroscience, 2015 Apr;18(4):511-20. DOI: doi.org/10.1038/nn.3953

J. Liu, L. Magri, F. Zhang, N.O. Marsh, S. Albrecht, J.L. Huynh, J. Kaur, T. Kuhlmann, W. Zhang, P.A. Slesinger, P. Casaccia. Chromatin landscape defined by repressive histone methylation during oligodendrocyte differentiation. The Journal of neuroscience : the official journal of the Society for Neuroscience, 2015 Jan 7;35(1):352-65. DOI: doi.org/10.1523/jneurosci.2606-14.2015

L. Magri, M. Gacias, M. Wu, V.A. Swiss, W.G. Janssen, P. Casaccia. c-Myc-dependent transcriptional regulation of cell cycle and nucleosomal histones during oligodendrocyte differentiation. Neuroscience, 2014 Sep 12;276:72-86. DOI: doi.org/10.1016/j.neuroscience.2014.01.051

O.G. Vidaurre, J.D. Haines, I.K. Sand, K.P. Adula, J.L. Huynh, C.A. McGraw, F. Zhang, M. Varghese, E. Sotirchos, P. Bhargava, V.V.R. Bandaru, G. Pasinetti, W. Zhang, M. Inglese, P.A. Calabresi, G. Wu, A.E. Miller, N.J. Haughey, F.D. Lublin, P. Casaccia. Cerebrospinal fluid ceramides from patients with multiple sclerosis impair neuronal bioenergetics. Brain : a journal of neurology, 2014 Aug;137(Pt 8):2271-86.. DOI: doi.org/10.1093/brain/awu139

M. Narayanan, J.L. Huynh, K. Wang, X. Yang, S. Yoo, J. McElwee, B. Zhang, C. Zhang, J.R. Lamb, T. Xie, C. Suver, C. Molony, S. Melquist, A.D. Johnson, G. Fan, D.J. Stone, E.E. Schadt, P. Casaccia, V. Emilsson, J. Zhu. Common dysregulation network in the human prefrontal cortex underlies two neurodegenerative diseases. Molecular systems biology, 2014 Jul 30;10(7):743.. DOI: doi.org/10.15252/msb.20145304

M. Gacias, G. Gerona-Navarro, A.N. Plotnikov, G. Zhang, L. Zeng, J. Kaur, G. Moy, E. Rusinova, Y. Rodriguez, B. Matikainen, A. Vincek, J. Joshua, P. Casaccia, M. Zhou. Selective chemical modulation of gene transcription favors oligodendrocyte lineage progression. Chemistry & biology, 2014 Jul 17;21(7):841-854.. DOI: doi.org/10.1016/j.chembiol.2014.05.009

D.J. Dutta, A. Zameer, J.N. Mariani, J. Zhang, L. Asp, J. Huynh, S. Mahase, B.M. Laitman, A.T. Argaw, N. Mitiku, M. Urbanski, C.V. Melendez-Vasquez, P. Casaccia, F. Hayot, E.P. Bottinger, C.W. Brown, G.R. John. Combinatorial actions of Tgfβ and Activin ligands promote oligodendrocyte development and CNS myelination. Development (Cambridge, England), 2014 Jun;141(12):2414-28.. DOI: doi.org/10.1242/dev.106492

M. Gacias, P. Casaccia. EPIGENETIC MECHANISMS IN MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS. Revista espanola de esclerosis multiple, 2014 Mar;6(29):25-35

L. Magri, V.A. Swiss, B. Jablonska, L. Lei, X. Pedre, M. Walsh, W. Zhang, V. Gallo, P. Canoll, P. Casaccia. E2F1 coregulates cell cycle genes and chromatin components during the transition of oligodendrocyte progenitors from proliferation to differentiation. The Journal of neuroscience : the official journal of the Society for Neuroscience, 2014 Jan 22;34(4):1481-93.. DOI: doi.org/10.1523/jneurosci.2840-13.2014

J.L. Huynh, P. Garg, T.H. Thin, S. Yoo, R. Dutta, B.D. Trapp, V. Haroutunian, J. Zhu, M.J. Donovan, A.J. Sharp, P. Casaccia. Epigenome-wide differences in pathology-free regions of multiple sclerosis-affected brains. Nature neuroscience, 2014 Jan;17(1):121-30.. DOI: doi.org/10.1038/nn.3588

M. Gacias, P. Casaccia. Promoting return of function in multiple sclerosis: An integrated approach. Multiple sclerosis and related disorders, 2013 Oct 1;2(4):10.1016/j.msard.2013.04.002.. DOI: doi.org/10.1016/j.msard.2013.04.002

R. Bharadwaj, Y. Jiang, W. Mao, M. Jakovcevski, A. Dincer, W. Krueger, K. Garbett, C. Whittle, J.S. Tushir, J. Liu, A. Sequeira, M.P. Vawter, P.D. Gardner, P. Casaccia, T. Rasmussen, W.E.B. Jr, K. Mirnics, K. Futai, S. Akbarian. Conserved chromosome 2q31 conformations are associated with transcriptional regulation of GAD1 GABA synthesis enzyme and altered in prefrontal cortex of subjects with schizophrenia. The Journal of neuroscience : the official journal of the Society for Neuroscience, 2013 Jul 17;33(29):11839-51.. DOI: doi.org/10.1523/jneurosci.1252-13.2013

J.L. Huynh, P. Casaccia. Epigenetic mechanisms in multiple sclerosis: implications for pathogenesis and treatment. The Lancet. Neurology, 2013 Feb;12(2):195-206.. DOI: doi.org/10.1016/s1474-4422(12)70309-5

J. Liu, K. Dietz, J.M. DeLoyht, X. Pedre, D. Kelkar, J. Kaur, V. Vialou, M.K. Lobo, D.M. Dietz, E.J. Nestler, J. Dupree, P. Casaccia. Impaired adult myelination in the prefrontal cortex of socially isolated mice. Nature neuroscience, 2012 Dec;15(12):1621-3.. DOI: doi.org/10.1038/nn.3263

O.G. Vidaurre, J. Liu, J. Haines, J. Sandoval, R. Nowakowski, P. Casaccia. An integrated approach to design novel therapeutic interventions for demyelinating disorders. The European journal of neuroscience, 2012 Jun;35(12):1879-86.. DOI: doi.org/10.1111/j.1460-9568.2012.08118.x

M. Wu, M. Hernandez, S. Shen, J.K. Sabo, D. Kelkar, J. Wang, R. O'Leary, G.R. Phillips, H.S. Cate, P. Casaccia. Differential modulation of the oligodendrocyte transcriptome by sonic hedgehog and bone morphogenetic protein 4 via opposing effects on histone acetylation. The Journal of neuroscience : the official journal of the Society for Neuroscience, 2012 May 9;32(19):6651-64.. DOI: doi.org/10.1523/jneurosci.4876-11.2012

J.A. DiNieri, X. Wang, H. Szutorisz, S.M. Spano, J. Kaur, P. Casaccia, D. Dow-Edwards, Y.L. Hurd. Maternal cannabis use alters ventral striatal dopamine D2 gene regulation in the offspring. Biological psychiatry, 2011 Oct 15;70(8):763-769. DOI: doi.org/10.1016/j.biopsych.2011.06.027

S. Gil-Perotin, J.D. Haines, J. Kaur, M. Marin-Husstege, M.J. Spinetta, K. Kim, M. Duran-Moreno, T. Schallert, F. Zindy, M.F. Roussel, J.M. Garcia-Verdugo, P. Casaccia. Roles of p53 and p27(Kip1) in the regulation of neurogenesis in the murine adult subventricular zone. The European journal of neuroscience, 2011 Oct;34(7):1040-52.. DOI: doi.org/10.1111/j.1460-9568.2011.07836.x

P. Casaccia. Anti-TANKyrase weapons promote myelination. Nature neuroscience, 2011 Jul 26;14(8):945-7.. DOI: doi.org/10.1038/nn.2885

V.A. Swiss, T. Nguyen, J. Dugas, A. Ibrahim, B. Barres, I.P. Androulakis, P. Casaccia. Identification of a gene regulatory network necessary for the initiation of oligodendrocyte differentiation. PloS one, 2011 Apr 7;6(4):e18088.. DOI: doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0018088

M. Inglese, N. Oesingmann, P. Casaccia, L. Fleysher. Progressive multiple sclerosis and gray matter pathology: an MRI perspective. The Mount Sinai journal of medicine, New York, Mar-Apr 2011;78(2):258-67. DOI: doi.org/10.1002/msj.20247

J.D. Haines, M. Inglese, P. Casaccia. Axonal damage in multiple sclerosis. The Mount Sinai journal of medicine, New York, Mar-Apr 2011;78(2):231-43. DOI: doi.org/10.1002/msj.20246

X. Pedre, F. Mastronardi, W. Bruck, G. López-Rodas, T. Kuhlmann, P. Casaccia. Changed histone acetylation patterns in normal-appearing white matter and early multiple sclerosis lesions. The Journal of neuroscience : the official journal of the Society for Neuroscience, 2011 Mar 2;31(9):3435-45.. DOI: doi.org/10.1523/jneurosci.4507-10.2011

Y. He, J. Y. Kim, J. Dupree, A. Tewari, C. Melendez-Vasquez, J. Svaren, P. Casaccia. Yy1 as a Molecular Link between Neuregulin and Transcriptional Modulation of Peripheral Myelination. Nat Neurosci, 2010, 13 (12), 1472–1480. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/nn.2686.

N.S. Mattan, C.A. Ghiani, M. Lloyd, R. Matalon, D. Bok, P. Casaccia, J.d. Vellis. Aspartoacylase deficiency affects early postnatal development of oligodendrocytes and myelination. Neurobiology of disease, 2010 Nov;40(2):432-43.. DOI: doi.org/10.1016/j.nbd.2010.07.003

J. Liu, J. Sandoval, S.T. Doh, L. Cai, G. López-Rodas, P. Casaccia. Epigenetic modifiers are necessary but not sufficient for reprogramming non-myelinating cells into myelin gene-expressing cells. PloS one, 2010 Sep 27;5(9):e13023.. DOI: doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0013023

J.Y. Kim, P. Casaccia. HDAC1 in axonal degeneration: A matter of subcellular localization. Cell cycle (Georgetown, Tex.), 2010 Sep 15;9(18):3680-4.. DOI: doi.org/10.4161/cc.9.18.12716

K.C. Dietz, P. Casaccia. HDAC inhibitors and neurodegeneration: at the edge between protection and damage. Pharmacological research, 2010 Jul;62(1):11-7.. DOI: doi.org/10.1016/j.phrs.2010.01.011

J.L. Huynh, P. Casaccia. Defining the chromatin landscape in demyelinating disorders. Neurobiology of disease, 2010 Jul;39(1):47-52.. DOI: doi.org/10.1016/j.nbd.2009.10.014

D. Kerns, G.S. Vong, K. Barley, S. Dracheva, P. Katsel, P. Casaccia, V. Haroutunian, W. Byne. Gene expression abnormalities and oligodendrocyte deficits in the internal capsule in schizophrenia. Schizophrenia research, 2010 Jul;120(1-3):150-8.. DOI: doi.org/10.1016/j.schres.2010.04.012

I. Germano, V. Swiss, P. Casaccia. Primary brain tumors, neural stem cell, and brain tumor cancer cells: where is the link?. Neuropharmacology, 2010 May;58(6):903-10.. DOI: doi.org/10.1016/j.neuropharm.2009.12.019

J. Liu, P. Casaccia. Epigenetic regulation of oligodendrocyte identity. Trends in neurosciences, 2010 Apr;33(4):193-201.. DOI: doi.org/10.1016/j.tins.2010.01.007

V.A. Swiss, P. Casaccia. Cell-context specific role of the E2F/Rb pathway in development and disease. Glia, 2010 Mar;58(4):377-90.. DOI: doi.org/10.1002/glia.20933

Y. Yu, P. Casaccia, Q.R. Lu. Shaping the oligodendrocyte identity by epigenetic control. Epigenetics, 2010 Feb 16;5(2):124-8.. DOI: doi.org/10.4161/epi.5.2.11160

H. Li, Y. He, W. D. Richardson, P. Casaccia. Two-Tier Transcriptional Control of Oligodendrocyte Differentiation. Curr Opin Neurobiol, 2009, 19 (5), 479–485. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conb.2009.08.004.

Y. He, P. Casaccia-Bonnefil. The Yin and Yang of YY1 in the Nervous System. J Neurochem, 2008, 106 (4), 1493–1502. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1471-4159.2008.05486.x.

Y. He, J. Sandoval, P. Casaccia-Bonnefil. Events at the Transition between Cell Cycle Exit and Oligodendrocyte Progenitor Differentiation: The Role of HDAC and YY1. Neuron Glia Biol., 2007, 3 (3), 221–231. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/S1740925X08000057.

Y. He, J. Dupree, J. Wang, J. Sandoval, J. Li, H. Liu, Y. Shi, K. A. Nave, P. Casaccia-Bonnefil. The Transcription Factor Yin Yang 1 Is Essential for Oligodendrocyte Progenitor Differentiation. Neuron, 2007, 55 (2), 217–230. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuron.2007.06.029.

A. Liu, Y.R. Han, J. Li, D. Sun, M. Ouyang, M.R. Plummer, P. Casaccia-Bonnefil. The glial or neuronal fate choice of oligodendrocyte progenitors is modulated by their ability to acquire an epigenetic memory. The Journal of neuroscience : the official journal of the Society for Neuroscience, 2007 Jul 4;27(27):7339-43. DOI: doi.org/10.1523/jneurosci.1226-07.2007

M. Marin-Husstege, Y. He, J. Li, T. Kondo, F. Sablitzky, P. Casaccia-Bonnefil. Multiple Roles of Id4 in Developmental Myelination: Predicted Outcomes and Unexpected Findings. Glia, 2006, 54 (4), 285–296. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/glia.20385.

R. Miskimins, R. Srinivasan, M. Marin-Husstege, W.K. Miskimins, P. Casaccia-Bonnefil. p27(Kip1) enhances myelin basic protein gene promoter activity. Journal of neuroscience research, 2002 Jan 1;67(1):100-5. DOI: doi.org/10.1002/jnr.10080

P. Dowling, X. Ming, S. Raval, W. Husar, P. Casaccia-Bonnefil, M. Chao, S. Cook, B. Blumberg. Up-regulated p75NTR neurotrophin receptor on glial cells in MS plaques. Neurology, 1999 Nov 10;53(8):1676-82. DOI: doi.org/10.1212/wnl.53.8.1676

P. Casaccia-Bonnefil, C. Gu, G. Khursigara, M.V. Chao. p75 neurotrophin receptor as a modulator of survival and death decisions. Microscopy research and technique, 1999 May 15-Jun 1;45(4-5):217-24. DOI: doi.org/10.1002/(sici)1097-0029(19990515/01)45:4/5<217::aid-jemt5>3.0.co;2-5

S.O. Yoon, P. Casaccia-Bonnefil, B. Carter, M.V. Chao. Competitive signaling between TrkA and p75 nerve growth factor receptors determines cell survival. The Journal of neuroscience : the official journal of the Society for Neuroscience, 1998 May 1;18(9):3273-81.. DOI: doi.org/10.1523/jneurosci.18-09-03273.1998

M. Chao, P. Casaccia-Bonnefil, B. Carter, A. Chittka, H. Kong, S.O. Yoon. Neurotrophin receptors: mediators of life and death. Brain research. Brain research reviews, 1998 May;26(2-3):295-301.. DOI: doi.org/10.1016/s0165-0173(97)00036-2

P. Casaccia-Bonnefil, H. Kong, M.V. Chao. Neurotrophins: the biological paradox of survival factors eliciting apoptosis. Cell death and differentiation, 1998 May;5(5):357-64.. DOI: doi.org/10.1038/sj.cdd.4400377

P.J. Bergold, P. Casaccia-Bonnefil. Preparation of organotypic hippocampal slice cultures using the membrane filter method. Methods in molecular biology (Clifton, N.J.), 1997;72:15-22.. DOI: doi.org/10.1385/0-89603-394-5:15

P. Casaccia-Bonnefil, R. Tikoo, H. Kiyokawa, V.F. Jr, M.V. Chao, A. Koff. Oligodendrocyte precursor differentiation is perturbed in the absence of the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p27Kip1. Genes & development, 1997 Sep 15;11(18):2335-46.. DOI: doi.org/10.1101/gad.11.18.2335

R. Tikoo, P. Casaccia-Bonnefil, M.V. Chao, A. Koff. Changes in cyclin-dependent kinase 2 and p27kip1 accompany glial cell differentiation of central glia-4 cells. The Journal of biological chemistry, 1997 Jan 3;272(1):442-7.. DOI: doi.org/10.1074/jbc.272.1.442

P. Casaccia-Bonnefil, B.D. Carter, R.T. Dobrowsky, M.V. Chao. Death of oligodendrocytes mediated by the interaction of nerve growth factor with its receptor p75. Nature, 1996 Oct 24;383(6602):716-9. DOI: doi.org/10.1038/383716a0

P. Casaccia-Bonnefil, L. Aibel, M.V. Chao. Central glial and neuronal populations display differential sensitivity to ceramide-dependent cell death. Journal of neuroscience research, 1996 Feb 1;43(3):382-9.. DOI: doi.org/10.1002/(sici)1097-4547(19960201)43:3<382::aid-jnr13>3.0.co;2-7

P. Casaccia-Bonnefil, A. Stelzer, H.J. Federoff, P.J. Bergold. A role for mossy fiber activation in the loss of CA3 and hilar neurons induced by transduction of the GluR6 kainate receptor subunit. Neuroscience letters, 1995 May 19;191(1-2):67-70.. DOI: doi.org/10.1016/0304-3940(95)11560-8

P. Casaccia-Bonnefil, E. Benedikz, H. Shen, A. Stelzer, D. Edelstein, M. Geschwind, M. Brownlee, H.J. Federoff, P.J. Bergold. Localized gene transfer into organotypic hippocampal slice cultures and acute hippocampal slices. Journal of neuroscience methods, 1993 Dec;50(3):341-51.. DOI: doi.org/10.1016/0165-0270(93)90040-x

E. Benedikz, P. Casaccia-Bonnefil, A. Stelzer, P.J. Bergold. Hyperexcitability and cell loss in kainate-treated hippocampal slice cultures. Neuroreport, 1993 Oct 25;5(1):90-2.. DOI: doi.org/10.1097/00001756-199310000-00025

P.J. Bergold, P. Casaccia-Bonnefil, X.L. Zeng, H.J. Federoff. Transsynaptic neuronal loss induced in hippocampal slice cultures by a herpes simplex virus vector expressing the GluR6 subunit of the kainate receptor. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 1993 Jul 1;90(13):6165-9. DOI: doi.org/10.1073/pnas.90.13.6165

P. Casaccia-Bonnefil, E. Benedikz, R. Rai, P.J. Bergold. Excitatory and inhibitory pathways modulate kainate excitotoxicity in hippocampal slice cultures. Neuroscience letters, 1993 May 14;154(1-2):5-8.. DOI: doi.org/10.1016/0304-3940(93)90157-g

P. Casaccia-Bonnefil, R.J. Kascsak, R. Fersko, S. Callahan, R.I. Carp. Brain regional distribution of prion protein PrP27-30 in mice stereotaxically microinjected with different strains of scrapie. The Journal of infectious diseases, 1993 Jan;167(1):7-12.. DOI: doi.org/10.1093/infdis/167.1.7

A. Ladogana, P. Casaccia, L. Ingrosso, M. Cibati, M. Salvatore, Y.G. Xi, C. Masullo, M. Pocchiari. Sulphate polyanions prolong the incubation period of scrapie-infected hamsters. The Journal of general virology, 1992 Mar;73 ( Pt 3):661-5.. DOI: doi.org/10.1099/0022-1317-73-3-661

P. Casaccia, A. Ladogana, Y.G. Xi, L. Ingrosso, M. Pocchiari, M.C. Silvestrini, A. Cittadini. Measurement of the concentration of amphotericin B in brain tissue of scrapie-infected hamsters with a simple and sensitive method. Antimicrobial agents and chemotherapy, 1991 Jul;35(7):1486-8.. DOI: doi.org/10.1128/aac.35.7.1486

P. Casaccia, A. Ladogana, Y.G. Xi, M. Pocchiari. Levels of infectivity in the blood throughout the incubation period of hamsters peripherally injected with scrapie. Archives of virology, 1989;108(1-2):145-9.. DOI: doi.org/10.1007/bf01313752

M. Pocchiari, P. Casaccia, A. Ladogana. Amphotericin B: a novel class of antiscrapie drugs. The Journal of infectious diseases, 1989 Nov;160(5):795-802.. DOI: doi.org/10.1093/infdis/160.5.795

C. Masullo, M. Pocchiari, G. Neri, P. Casaccia, A. Iavarone, A. Ladogana, G. Macchi. A retrospective study of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease in Italy (1972-1986). European journal of epidemiology, 1988 Dec;4(4):482-7.. DOI: doi.org/10.1007/bf00146403

R.G. Lim, O. Al-Dalahmah, J. Wu, M. P. Gold, J. C. Reidling, G. Tang, M. Adam, D. K. Dansu, H.-J. Park, P. Casaccia, R. Miramontes, A. M. Reyes-Ortiz, A. Lau, R. A. Hickman, F. Khan, F. Paryani, A. Tang, K. Ofori, E. Miyoshi, N. Michael, et al. Huntington Disease Oligodendrocyte Maturation Deficits Revealed by Single-Nucleus RNAseq Are Rescued by Thiamine-Biotin Supplementation. Nat Commun, 2022, 13 (1), 7791. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-022-35388-x.

Headshot: Patrizia Casaccia

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212.413.3180